News

A new building material or the perfect material for a surfboard? Cowabunga dude. This material comes in 4x8-ft. sheets and is said to be a lightweight, rot-resistant alternative to plywood with no risk of warping....More

Engineers at Battelle have used their knowledge of materials science, chemistry, physics, and polymer processing to develop a pattern-transfer technique used to fabricate specialized microfeatured polymeric film in a fast and cost-effective manner....More

An employee was inspecting a conveyor belt that recently had been adjusted. As he perused the setup, a rotating part of the conveyor caught his clothing. He was pulled into the machine and sustained injuries that sent him to the nearest medical center...More

Editorial Comment

As machinations over the fiscal cliff make headlines, they have pushed worries about the U.S. trade deficit out of the public consciousness. That’s too bad because much of our current economic woe stems from the loss of whole manufacturing industries to Asia...More

Scanning the Field

Vantage Point

Most industrial equipment contains extensive electrical wiring running between its components and subsystems. When the equipment is manufactured, the machine builder typically assembles and tests most of the systems at the plant prior to shipment...More

Backtalk

The “Engineers Guide to Adhesives” is a free smartphone app for both iPhones and Androids from Permabond Engineering Adhesives, Somerset, N.J. Engineers can get advice on various topics, including...More

Here’s a fun spin on engineering and all you need is paper, scissors, and tape — paper roller coasters. Just fold, cut, and tape colorful paper strips of heavy paper together to create sturdy roller coasters that can reach the ceiling...More